Newly-elected 8th District U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, visited Brighton on Thursday with a message that she plans to work for all, regardless of how they voted.

"Just because you didn't vote for me doesn't mean I don't serve you," Slotkin told the crowd at the packed Great Harvest Bread Company in downtown Brighton. "I want to be in every corner of the district and give people a reason to trust me and believe in me and earn your support whether you voted for me or not."

Slotkin defeated incumbent Republican Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, by getting 51% of the vote to Bishop's 47% in the district that includes Livingston and Ingham counties and a portion of Oakland County. However, Bishop won the vote in Livingston, by more than 18,000 votes, and won Oakland County but lost Ingham County by more than 45,000 votes.

She noted election night was a "nail-biter" and she thanked Bishop, who she said was very gracious in a concession phone call.

Slotkin has committed to having an office in Lansing, something Bishop did not have, although he maintains an office in Brighton. However, she stopped short of saying she would establish an office in Livingston County, saying she was still trying to figure out other locations and didn't know what her budget would be yet.

She has committed to holding town hall meetings every three months and said in Livingston County, she wants to focus on agriculture and lowering regulations for small businesses.

"Farmers are going through a lot with tariffs," Slotkin said.

Slotkin said she believes in the rise of "the Midwestern Democrat," which she defined as "someone practical, reasonable and independently minded" as well as willing to work across the aisle.

"There is no such thing as a one-party country," she said. "We need people of integrity on both sides of the aisle. We believe every American deserves a fair shake, no more and no less."

Slotkin said her first priority upon taking office in January will be campaign finance reform, as PAC money is "poisoning" the system. She also wants to work on making health care affordable for all, and said she would not rest until a bipartisan solution is found to lower costs, including for prescription drugs.

Slotkin said does not support Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House, but would not say who she would support, adding she was not clear on candidates.

She spoke also about the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, Calif. on Wednesday night in which 12 people were killed by a Marine veteran, saying, "We need to have an adult conversation about gun safety."

Slotkin said she has not supported a ban on semi-automatic weapons. She advocated for adequate mental health services and universal background checks to close gun loopholes.

Gretchen Hertz, 44, a Hamburg Township resident, said Slotkin understands the district and she is looking forward to the town hall meetings.

"This is not a super liberal district, it's more moderate and she will focus on the issues important to us like healthcare," Hertz said. "She's reasonable, realistic, and bi-partisan."

Ron Pastor, an employee at Great Harvest Bread Company, said he believes Slotkin will work across the aisle and he voted for her despite his Libertarian tendencies.

"I'm tired of all the fighting," he said. "It's time to get something done."